The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-11-02
Sunday Musings.


Editor Mirror:
How odd it sounds. and yet the walls of
this prison inclose decidedly exclusive
class of society with it's lines of division as
clearly defined as those of the outside and
larger world, for gradually the mind OF man,
owing to its elasticity shrinks to accommO-
date itself to circumstances, and as time
drags slowly on the images and remem-
blances grow more and more indistinct ull-
til at last, as in the case of prisoners who
have been immured for many years. the
four walls bound their little world and the
miniature society therein supplies his daily
food for thought. And the Importance he
attaches to the apparently trifing and insig-
niticant events, veXations and petty griev
ances and anXietieS would seem ludicrOus
to those who are unaware of this peculiar
ity of the mmd that long isolation will
often bring forgetfulness or Indifference.
This mental elasticity is more apparent in the
young tnan the old; but even in the case OF
the aged the lines of thought, precedent,
and custom rarely grow so rigid that this
provision of an All-wise Providence is de-
fected, for if it were not for the fact that
Nature accommodated itself to circum-
stances to a certain extent, then would men
all die of heartbreak and anguish. disap-
Spointment and grief, at the loss of cher
ished possessions, or the demolition OF cher
ished planS hopes and desires as in the
case of the aged emigrant leaving his
country that he may find a home and pros
perty beyond the SEAS not for himself but
for his progeny. That hope alone inspires
him. But there is always that true and ten
der solicitude for his cOuntry's welfare and
yearning to again visit the scenes of his
youth, and he pictures to himself the village
streets and houses and fields; the people
with whom he associated, and the distance
lends enchantment to the retrOspectiOn. SO
with the aged prisoner of the Bastle when
Iiberated his life had been ''refOrmed' and
rendered useless to himself and others, and
the lines of habit had become SO set that
the old man preferred Imprisonment to liber-
ty. So long had this old man been confined
that liberty to him meant death. The lines
of habit had worn so deeply and mental
action grown SO set that all attempt to re
FORM it's organization results in confusion
and DEATH 1t was too late. In the effort
to mould this creature properly the JOB was
OverdOne and spoiled beyond repair.
have often by the aid of my books and
other occupations diverted my thoughts in
to prison channels and for time been con-
tented, and then Suddenly-at the note of a
bird or the scent OF flower, borne into my
cell by gentle zephyr, or sound of music
or the merry voice of children whose Shrill
treble voices penetrate to the cell house as
they romp and play OH the hill outside the
walls-been recalled from the lethargic
sleep to the events that were passing Oh the
outside.
There lives on the hill outside the wall a
festive performer on the flute who. during
the summer evenings, is wont to play his
favOrite airs, land from the nature of which,
L should Judge that the artist is of Hibern-
ian extraction,) and if as he vigorously ma
npulates the keys in the rendition of Col
leen Bawn.'' 1.-The Rocky Road to Dublin
and the wearing Of the Green," he could
only realize what an appreciative audience
are catching the lovely strains that float in,
in whole bars, and mentally applauding each
gracefully executed variation, he could not
feel otherwise than proud of his musical
abilities. Judging by the silence OF the
cell house when BOnnaparte commences
crossing the Alps or the artist begins to
mourn for the Girl He Left Behind he has
carried many poor fellow beyond the walls
in thought and stimulated MS imaglna-
ton and memory to reel off "reminiscences
until tired nature stepped in and called a
halt. But that the prisoner has been bene-
fitted in stealing fourth surreptitiouSly
cannot be doubted and that this reflection is
an element OF reform is indisputable. but